Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected ebook ARC of 'Is She Really Going Out With Him?' by Sophie Cousens - expected release date 11/19/2024

I've read a few of Cousens books and this one has been the best so far. I'm not usually a meet-cute, romance reader, but her book descriptions always suck me in. This one sounded like it was going to be fun and it didn't disappoint - divorced, magazine journalist mom Anna is being forced to keep up with the generational trends in her columns and decides to write her articles based on the experience of dating guys her kids chose. Debacles and hilarity ensues. Her articles are published side by side next to articles written by her male nemesis colleague, Will also related to his dating experiences. So many important relationships develop and grow, between the characters and in finding themselves. Cousens writing was funny and descriptive and she always goes the extra mile to tie everything up in a neat little bow by the end. All of the characters in this book were likeable, even the ones I didn't expect to like (the ex husband and his girlfriend). This was a quick, easy, fun read!

Never read a Cousens novel before and I don’t think I’ll pick up another. I feel bad giving a lower review because I think this is just for a different age set than myself. Good for some folks, probably, just not me!

5 stars for Sophie Cousens' upcoming book "Is She Really Going Out With Him?". This was just what I needed to start the fall, with a cozy, engaging, original story that is officially my favorite Sophie Cousens book yet!

Our main characters are Anna Appleby, a 38 yr old, recently divorced, mother of 2 columnist, and Will Havers, 30, handsome, charming as can be, and Anna's work rival. When they are forced to fight for Anna's dating column by having rival dates - Anna's picked by her children and Will's from an online dating site, they find themselves learning that there is more to each other than they expected, and finding love in the process.

Where do I begin on how much I loved this book? First the premise was hilarious! Having her 8 and 10 year old kids pick Anna's dates makes for unexpected and hilarious dates. From the grumpy neighbor to the postman to her celebrity crush, Anna finds herself opening to new people, and finding frienship on the way. We also see her healing process with her ex and herself after her divorce, which I found so touching. My favorite unexpected part was definitely Will Havers, the flirty, handsome, charming, audacious coworker who turns out has a heart of gold and feels all the feelings. This book was such surprising gem and I cannot wait for the world to read it.

No notes. All the charm. All the feels. 5 stars. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Another fun rom-com by Sophie Cousens. Anna, a recently divorced mother of two, navigates through seeing her ex move in with a younger woman, trying to help her tween and teen kids find their ways through the trials of school and family life- all while trying to hang on to her job as a writer for a local magazine. I enjoyed watching the very realistic scenarios of Anna trying to juggle keeping her kids happy, while keeping her bosses happy while still finding time to create a life where she is finding the time and space to be herself. I loved so many of the side characters in this book- especially Loretta. I hope Loretta gets her own book next time- I loved her wise yet carefree look on life! The weekend in the woods was a great read, but I feel like the connection between Will and Anna was sometimes stilted. I would have liked to have seen more crispness to their interactions- the good and the bad. But overall, this was a fun read!
Thank you to Net Galley and Putnam Books for providing me with an advanced copy of this book to read and review.

4.5 stars.

This book was so good! It had all the things I love: found family, relatably-aged heroine, and co-working rivals to lovers (I know that’s not an official trope, but I also know you understand what I’m talking about…lol).

I loved the chemistry between Anna and Will. Will was somewhat unlikeable to begin with, but Cousens did a really nice job with slowly showing his true character to both Anna and the readers. I also loved Anna’s transformation throughout the book. I never felt like she was wallowing in her divorce, but in the beginning she struggled with establishing her identity outside of her children. It was nice seeing her make friends, discover new hobbies, and advocate for herself.

Anna’s misadventures in dating made me laugh out loud. And I think the favorite part of the book was the Google searches at the beginning of each chapter. I found them so relatable!

The friends in this book were the icing on the cake. I loved the characters who stuck around: Lottie, Loretta, Noah, Michael. Such a great group.

I’ve always enjoyed Cousens’ books. I think I’ve read all but one (which is on my TBR) and while I’ve enjoyed them all, this one is my favorite of hers so far.

Anna is a recently divorced journalist for Bath Living, who is currently undergoing change. When Anna’s column is coveted by her coworker, Will, she pitches the idea that she go on 10 dates but her children choose who with. Maybe Anna will meet someone and fall in love.

The banter and tension between Anna and Will was apparent from the beginning. I didn’t want this book to end.

What I loved:
- Jess and Ethan
- Closed door romance
- Loretta
- Will and his monogrammed shirts 🥹

What I didn’t love:
- Dan and Sylvie
- Miscommunication

Another hit from Sophie Cousens. I liked the divorce storyline. I suspected how it would probably end but I was still exciting to see how it ended. The main character was very likeable. I wished she would’ve been more open to love.

This was really ridiculous, but in a good way. I loved loved loved the dates and the whole story was really wonderful. I did feel like (couple name redacted)’s chemistry was really strong initially, but kind of faded over time? Still a wonderful book and the side characters were great

Is She Really Going Out With Him by Sophie Cousens is another fun romance! I have read all of this author’s books and I always know I will have a good time. This one was no exception. It follows Anna, a 38 year old recent divorcee as she is trying to figure out what to do next. When her job is on the chopping block, she comes up with the idea to let her kids pick people for her to date because online dating apps are just not it for her. She goes on a string of both hilarious and heartfelt dates and learns about herself in the process. Will she find love along the way?

I had a good time with this. I think Cousens does a great job with kids in romances, which isn’t something that everyone can do. The kids felt age appropriate and weren’t annoying. I also love that Anna was an older character. She has already lived so much of her life in a relationship, it’s hard to start over and I think a lot of people will relate to that.

There were a couple of things that stopped this from being my perfect book. I know Anna is going through a hard time but I’m never a fan of the “women hating women” thing and that’s how it felt with Anna and her husband’s new wife. Learning to coparent can be hard and it’s something I’ve personally dealt with but it’s not going to make it easier when there is already some dislike toward your coparent’s new partner. I know we are in Anna’s head and we are just seeing things how she did but it seemed out of character for her. I also didn’t know want her to end up with the guy she ended up with. I didn’t feel the chemistry between them and he just didn’t seem to click with her. There was a different character I wanted her to pick. I don’t want to say who is who because I don’t want to spoil anything but when people read the book, they will know who I am referring to.

This was still a great book and I can’t wait to own it! There were just a couple of things that I didn’t like personally but I’m sure other people won’t even mind. There are some swoony parts in this book and some parts that will make you laugh out loud! If you need a good pickmeup book, this would be a good one!

Yet another book from Sophie Cousens I really enjoyed! I appreciate that her characters are grappling with real life challenges - career ambition, divorce, raising kids, finding a partner - while also ending up in situations that are straight out of the rom-com playbook (oh no - there’s only one bed!). The banter was excellent and the story had a great mix of quirky side characters. Definitely a book to add to your TBR!

I was locked into this book from the hilarity of the prologue and it didn’t stop until the very end! There were a lot of emotions I felt while reading this one: entertainment of Anna’s unique dates, the stress of trying to stay relevant at work, the heartbreak of redefining her identity post-divorce, and the excitement of potentially finding someone enjoy life with. This book was well written and real, with plenty of heart and humor that can easily make it an read you just can’t put down!

Honestly, when I first received my eARC of this copy I was nervous about not being able to connect with Anna due to our age gap. The author immediately proved me wrong in the PROLOGUE. The meltdown surrounded by children? Been there done that. Consider me hooked. The story starts a year after the slight meltdown, Anna has yet to return to the dating scene but as soon as her journalistic column is up for grabs by the newer, younger and hot guy in the office, she decides it’s time you make a comeback. I love seeing the use of different mediums, in this case the chapters begin with what we assume is Anna’s google search history. The house party!!!! iykyk… There are so many moments you truly just fall deeper for Anna, she feels 3D and nearly able to touch through the page (in my case a screen). The found family and following the dynamics of the friendships was heartwarming and Jane Austen driven so no complaints on that front hahahah. Overall it’s a cosy and sweet while also being able to discuss big topics without making them seem fluffy.

Pub Date November 19 2024

ARC provided by Putman Books and NetGalley. Thank you.

review posted to NetGalley & Goodreads

I can't even express how obsessed i am with this book. I've never read a Sophie Cousens book before, but I absolutely will be reading more!

This book follows Anna, who is a divorced woman in her late thirties. First off, I love that detail because it's not super often you see an older representation in romance novels (many I've come across highlight people in their 20s) so I loved this detail. Her column is at risk of being axed, and her workplace enemy Will is trying to squeeze in and snatch it away from her. In an effort to save her column, Anna suggests that she goes on dates with men her children pick out for her in real life, Will ends up working alongside her, partnering a column where he finds suitable dates that are similar via dating apps. This book was SO funny and also very touching as you watch her journey dating again, and among a wide range of different men.

I have no critiques, as this book truly was so enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

This is Sophie cousens at her best!

I love the humor and heart!

I was kicking my feet at the sweet romance and laughing out loud at the silly situations our heroine kept finding herself in.

This story had me laughing so hard I was crying! It’s about a journalist who agrees to go out on dates that her children choose and then she writes articles about them. It’s got a sweet romance with hilarious banter and I loved it!

Anna Appleby writes for a lifestyle and culture magazine and is worried when a new investor tells them he wants articles that will reach a younger audience. He wants articles about dating and nightlife and though Anna’s been divorced for over a year, she hasn’t felt ready to date again. But she’s willing to do it if it means keeping her job! When she shares with her boss that her young son wants her to go out with his classmate’s dad, her boss jumps on the idea and expands on it, asking her to let her two kids choose her dates for her weekly articles. He’s noticed a cynical tone to her recent articles about dating and he tells her readers want to see more hope and optimism. Will Havern is a popular and handsome food critic at the magazine and when he overhears them, he suggests that he do a column as the ‘man about town’ who only has time for apps to contrast with Anna’s stories (a working mum, looking for love in real life).

It's so funny to see Anna on her dates that the kids choose. Her first date takes her fishing and somehow the fish hook ends up stuck on her date’s face - oops. There are more hilarious dates and then they choose Will for her to date and it's sweet. This is Sophie Cousens’ humor at her best!

There are lots of quirky, fun characters in this story between all the people they meet on their dates and the places they go around town. The ending is pretty sudden, but I loved seeing Anna enjoying life as she makes new friends and finds love again. This is another feel-good story from Sophie Cousens with lots of humor and romance and I highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I am a fan of Sophie Cousens's books, and I found this one to be adorable. I loved how the female MC Anna was a divorced mom (we don't always see a mom in lighter rom-coms), and I thought she really grew as a character. The male MC Will was absolutely swoon-worthy, and I enjoyed his growth in the book as well.
While I LOVED the ending, I do recognize that it's a bit unrealistic. I think it could have been written a bit differently.

Sophie Cousens' writing is so charming and delightful. I love her characters and the sense of community in her stories. This book was fun and sweet! I was rooting for Anna in finding love and life again after her divorce.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me a digital review copy via NetGalley.

Absolute perfection, I loved every chapter! This was heartwarming, unique, well written, engaging, lovely, hilarious. I could go on and on. After reading this and then Sophie Cousens’ The Good Part, I am officially a Sophie fan.

The concept of her kids picking out dates was brilliant and made this such a funny, feel-good read. Even though it is an easy, romcom read, this author developed such a full story that I could not put down.

All of the characters felt fully formed and unique, and I felt like each one added something to the story as opposed to being filler.

As far as Anna, she is cynical and a little uptight at first because she’s spent her whole life compromising and putting her kids first. Some books about divorce can be hard to relate to and a bit of a bummer, but this was nothing like that. Although I can’t imagine what a divorce and how difficult untangling your lives must be like, I could easily relate to the FMC. I really enjoyed the journey of her finding herself, growing, and going after what SHE wants for a change. She isn’t whining or laying down and letting life get the better of her, she takes steps to be more independent and makes it all happen!

Will is perfection. No notes. I mean seriously, they had the best banter! This wasn’t instalove either. We get to see their friendship develop, how they support each other, what their families are like, and the most delicious tension as they figure out their feelings. The window scene. The cabin?! UGH. I wish I could erase this from my memory so I could experience it all over again.

There were a lot of little things I liked about this, like searches used as chapter openers. Do yourself a favor and do not skip those when you pick this book up!

Appleby, a recently divorced mama battles it out with her work enemy Will in hopes to maintain a position with the new owners of their publication. Will is charming and likeable by the current boss as well as the one that has acquisition the company. Appleby on the other hand feels her need to prove herself after receiving some critique. The two go head to head on a dating column - she takes the angle of dating people she knows in real life following divorce while he tackles dating online as highly eligible bachelor.

But is there a romance blossoming between the two of them? You will love following along with her dates laughing along the way. You will grow frustrated at times with their inability to just communicate. You will fall in love with the new friends she makes along the way. You may even stop hating her ex-husband at some point within the story line.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for allowing me to read an ARC of Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens, in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this! I loved being with Anna as she learned who she is; as she navigated through her new normal.

Every one of the characters were delightful, and each brought their own something to Anna's life.

I absolutely recommend this book!